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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Steering Committee - 01/24/2022STEERING COMMITTEE 24 JANUARY 2022 The South Burlington Steering Committee held a meeting on Monday, 24 January 2022, at 6:30 p.m., in the Auditorium, 180 Market Street, and by remote participation. Members Present: City Council: H. Riehle, Steering Committee Chair; T. Barritt, M. Cota, Sen. T. Chittenden, M. Emery; J. Baker, City Manager; School Board: B. Burkhardt, A. McHenry, Dr. T. Childs, B. Minier, L. Rountree Also Present: A. Bolduc, Deputy City Manager; V. Nichols, Executive Director for Literacy; G. Marckres, Director of Operations & Finance; B. Britt, L. Bailey, D. Bugbee 1. Instructions for exiting the building in case of an emergency and technology options: Ms. Baker provided instructions for emergency exit from the building. She also explained technology options for the public. 2. Comments & Questions from the public not related to Agenda items: There were no comments or questions from the public. 3. Approve Minutes from Steering Committee meetings on 18 May 2021 and 27 October 2021: Mr. Barritt moved to approve the Minutes of 18 May and 27 October 2021 as written. Mr. Cota seconded. Motion passed with all present voting in favor. 4. Presentation of FY23 School Budget: Ms. Nichols said the district’s priorities remain the same: Disposition for lifelong learning, academic proficiency, personal development, and citizenship. She also noted that last year’s school budget was very well supported by voters. The FY23 budget focuses on the academic but also on emotional issues as we hopefully move out of the pandemic. Mr. Marckres then outlined the main factors resulting in the proposed budget: a. More than a 6% increase in the Consumer Price Index b. Increased enrollment at Marcott and Orchard Schools c. Ongoing negotiations with 3 bargaining units d. The critical labor shortage STEERING COMMITTEE 24 JANUARY 2022 PAGE 2 The School District has 498.18 authorized positions. Of those, 485.75 are currently filled. The proposed number of positions for FY23 is 501.18. On the revenue side, the district will be carrying over $2,000,000 from the FY22 budget and also utilizing $3,100,000 from ARPA’s Emergency Relief to School (the ARPA money must be expended by September 2024. Mr. Marckres then reviewed the State factors including the CLA (which is at 100%, an 11.04% drop from FY22), equalized pupils (2568.67, down 1.64 from FY22), property yield (12,937) and income yield (15,484). Ms. Nichols reviewed enrollment projections, noting that both Marcott and Orchard Schools are above capacity. The total elementary/pre-K enrollment is also above capacity. The proposed budget increase is 4.89% which will result in an increase for net educational spending of 3.64%. For the average home, the increase will be $36 and for the average condo $24. Additions to the budget include 3 FTE employees. These include a full time Executive Director of Equity, a 0.4 Assistant Principal in Gertrude Chamberlin School, a 0.8 Assistant Principal at Orchard School and a 0.8 Assistant Principal at Marcott School. There are also additions for utilities, cleaning (at the new administrative offices building), playground upgrade at Gertrude Chamberlin School to bring it up to the standard of the other elementary schools. Mr. Marckres noted that it was difficult this past year to execute bonded work related to the Facilities Stewardship Plan. In FY23, they plan to use $500,000 of the bond money for projects including the Middle School roof. There are no new bond issues for FY23. Ms. Burkhardt then reviewed Master Planning and Visioning. She cited the urgent needs at Marcott and Orchard Schools which they are planning to address with trailers for administrative offices. This will temporarily free up space and allow time to address enrollment issues. In phases 2 and 3, issues at the High School and Middle School will be addressed. One option is to move 5th graders into the Middle School to free up elementary school space. Phase 4 will explore property available for future school options. Mr. Marckres then showed charts of homestead tax rate history and comparative per pupil spending. In the latter, South Burlington is the 3rd lowest in the area in FY22. The average per STEERING COMMITTEE 24 JANUARY 2022 PAGE 3 Pupil spending was also lower in South Burlington ($17,419.41 in FY22) than the statewide estimate ($18,023). Ms. Burkhardt said the final numbers on the ballot will be: Projected expense budget ………………..$58,344,602 Per equalized pupil spending ……………. 17,415.41 Increase in per pupil spending …………. 3.68% Ms. Emery asked whether ARPA funds can be used for the Chamberlin Playground. Mr. Marckres said it is in the local budget because it would have had to be done regardless of COVID. Ms. Emery asked what is being covered by ARPA funds. Mr. Burkhardt said the temporary trailers and the temporary FTEs. Ms. Nichols noted that not all ARPA funds are committee, and they will be seeking input from the community as to how to spend them. So far, South Burlington has been focusing on staffing (counselors, behavioral clinicians, academic supports music and health at the elementary and middle schools, and academic support at the high school), and PPE expenses. Ms. Emery asked what is available from Montpelier or the federal government regarding facilities. Mr. Marckres said there are discussions in this session of the Legislature, but there has been no movement except for allocating some money for a survey of all Vermont schools. There has been no action to bring back funding for construction, and it is unknown what will happen with “Build Back Better.” Ms. Emery also asked the status of things that were removed from the previous budget. Mr. Marckres said some things have been restored. Co-curricular is back almost to pre-2020 levels. Some things can be addressed through Education Recovery. Ms. Emery thanked the school district for making in-person learning possible. Mr. Barritt asked whether the trailers will be equipped with plumbing and sewer. Mr. Marckres said they are not. Mr. Barritt asked whether there is an indication from the City Assessor of any increase in commercial values. Ms. Baker said the grand list will be set as of 1 April 2022. The Assessor will be working on new values as of 1 April. Ms. Riehle asked if it is anticipated that some of the additional support services that are being funded through recovery money will go away when those funds expire or whether they will STEERING COMMITTEE 24 JANUARY 2022 PAGE 4 have to be supported by taxpayer money. Ms. Nichols said the emotional, social and learning supports will be needed beyond the expiration of the recovery funds. It will all depend on what happens with COVID cases. Mr. Cota asked whether the school district owns property in the city other than the existing schools. Ms. Burkhardt said they do not, and they are not targeting any particular property at the moment. 5. Presentation of FY23 City Budget: Mr. Bolduc credited the number of city employees involved in the preparation of the city’s proposed FY23 budget. He then outlined the goals of the proposed budget including sensitivity to tax rate increases, conservatively planning for wage adjustments for 3 expiring bargaining unit contracts, funding “frozen” and unfunded positions to pre-pandemic levels of service, meeting operation needs of 180 Market Street and 19 Gregory Drive (which the city now fully owns), funding critical deferred expenses (e.g., ambulance), restoring FY22 CIP funding reductions, and strategically allocating ARPA funding. Mr. Bolduc noted the city has budgeted a little over a 5% increase which includes re-funding of 3 critical positions, additional property insurance costs for 180 Market Street, and increases in the two “pennies” items. The amount of the city budget to be raised from taxes is $17,962,812 which will result in a 3.24% tax increase. The average single family home will pay $118 more for the year, and the average condo will pay $79 more. Mr. Bolduc then reviewed budget highlights including bringing 180 Market Street fully on line, funding 2 new part time and 1 full time Library positions, addressing IT needs (e.g., better cyber security and Office 365 implementation), hiring of a handyperson, and a focus on capital planning strategy. ARPA funding will be used to address 80% of the 3 staff positions, replacement of dispatch consoles, cyber security, Planning & Zoning Department software, Fire/EMS staffing (partial funding with the balance from the general fund), and an ambulance. This will leave $4,500,000 in ARPA funds. The city will seek public input on the best use of those funds. STEERING COMMITTEE 24 JANUARY 2022 PAGE 5 Mr. Bolduc then addressed revenues, noting that 63 of the city budget is supported from property taxes. Other sources include local options taxes which are rebounding the pre-COVID levels and are currently exceeding projections and increases in permitting revenues. Mr. Bolduc explained that when the grand list increased, the one cent “pennies” for open space and paths was increased by $95,000 each. With regard to utilities, Mr. Bolduc noted that there will be very slight increases in stormwater, sewer and water fees resulting in a total annual increase to rate payers of $16.83. Emerging issues in the city include: inflation, settling of the 3 bargaining unit contracts, regional dispatch planning, the city’s Climate Action Plan, and absorbing deferred costs which will mean catching up in future years. Mr. Bolduc noted that the city will not be mailing ballots to all voters for the March election. Voters will have to request a mail-in ballot. 6. Other City and School Updates: Ms. Baker said the city’s Climate Action Task Force is at work, and the school district has expresses interest in that work. The City Charter Committee will be asked to look at governance in participation with the school district over the next two years. The next public hearing on the proposed amendments to the Land Development Regulations will be on 7 February. Ms. Baker then reviewed the candidates for open position on the School Board and City Council as follows: 2-year School Board position……….Kate Bailey 3-year School Board position……….Michele Boyer Remaining 2 years of a 3-year School Board position……….Brian Champion (who may withdraw) and Chelsea Tillinghast; STEERING COMMITTEE 24 JANUARY 2022 PAGE 6 2-year City Council position……..Meaghan Emery and Chris Trombley 3-year City Council position…….Tim Barritt and Linda Bailey 7. Other Business: Ms. Riehle thanked outgoing School Board members Bridget Burkhardt and Brian Meunier for their service to the city. As there was no further business to come before the Steering Committee, Mr. Cota moved to adjourn. Ms. Emery seconded. The motion passed unanimously. The meeting was adjourned at 7:58 p.m.